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Ant_222 Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
A cool air?
Hi all.
Here's another question that arose in my mind while reading "The Lord of the Rings".
In one episode, after Tom Bombadil opened a window, "A cool air flowed in; it had a rainy smell". How come the independent article was placed before "air"? Does it mean a chunk, a portion of cool air? Even if it so, I am still in need of your confirmation for I am not sure the poetic license is the only document justifying such usage...
Thanks in advance,
Anton.
Here's another question that arose in my mind while reading "The Lord of the Rings".
In one episode, after Tom Bombadil opened a window, "A cool air flowed in; it had a rainy smell". How come the independent article was placed before "air"? Does it mean a chunk, a portion of cool air? Even if it so, I am still in need of your confirmation for I am not sure the poetic license is the only document justifying such usage...
Thanks in advance,
Anton.
Top answer
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4 Answers
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Anton,
You're right, it is not just poetic license. The author is making a non-count noun into a count noun by adding an article. He is being specific about this air for some reason. I think you're right on to think of it as a "chunk". I would guess he is "counting" a small gust of wind. Perhaps the air is not normally cool, or didn't normally smell like rain, and he is showing this by turni
You're right, it is not just poetic license. The author is making a non-count noun into a count noun by adding an article. He is being specific about this air for some reason. I think you're right on to think of it as a "chunk". I would guess he is "counting" a small gust of wind. Perhaps the air is not normally cool, or didn't normally smell like rain, and he is showing this by turni
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Thank you GG and Miss Mandy!
MissMandyEnglish article usage is not a straightforward as we all wish it were.Even you, the natives?
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I think most native speakers have no trouble deciding to use an article or not. Some people may stumble over choosing a or the once in a while, but not usually. However, as a teacher, I sure with it were clearer than it is!
~Miss Mandy
~Miss Mandy
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